Eriogonum kennedyi var. austromontanum
Southern mountain buckwheat
Photo: parent species Eriogonum kennedyi · (c) Adam J. Searcy, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2 · Threatened
Eriogonum kennedyi var. austromontanum (Southern mountain buckwheat) is a native California subshrub in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by intermediate size and flat leaf margins diagnostic.
Southern mountain buckwheat is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in northern Western Transverse Ranges around Mount Pinos and in the San Bernardino Mountains at elevations of 2,000 to 2,200 meters in gravelly habitats. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces white to pale pink flowers in small compact clusters. Growing as a low, spreading plant about 15 to 35 centimeters in diameter with stems reaching 8 to 15 centimeters tall, it forms a dense, low-growing mat. Its leaves are small, narrow, and densely covered in gray-white woolly hairs, measuring about 6 to 10 millimeters long and less than 2 millimeters wide with flat margins. The compact fruit is approximately 3.5 to 4 millimeters long, contributing to its distinctive low-growing, clustered appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 58 sympatric species; intermediate size and flat leaf margins diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravel
Elevation: 2000-2200 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Ventura
Bloom period
Eriogonum kennedyi var. austromontanum blooms Jun-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2 · Threatened
How to tell it apart
vs Adenostoma: Eriogonum has flowers in cup-like involucres; Adenostoma has tiny white rose-family flowers in spikes.; vs Salvia: Eriogonum has six similar perianth parts; Salvia has two-lipped tubular flowers.; vs Fagopyrum: Eriogonum has flowers in involucred clusters; Fagopyrum has loose branching sprays without involucres.; vs Artemisia: Eriogonum has cup-surrounded flower clusters; Artemisia has tiny inconspicuous heads in drooping sprays.; vs Chorizanthe: Eriogonum has multiple flowers per involucre; Chorizanthe has one flower per involucre with spiny teeth.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eriogonum kennedyi var. austromontanum native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum kennedyi var. austromontanum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum kennedyi var. austromontanum bloom?
Eriogonum kennedyi var. austromontanum blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Eriogonum kennedyi var. austromontanum grow?
Eriogonum kennedyi var. austromontanum occurs in San Bernardino, Ventura, at elevations of 2000-2200 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum kennedyi var. austromontanum belong to?
Eriogonum kennedyi var. austromontanum is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
Is Eriogonum kennedyi var. austromontanum rare or endangered?
Eriogonum kennedyi var. austromontanum carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.